Hindu Sindhis are presently celebrating their New Year festivities called Cheti Chand. It would be pertinent to know about essential Sindhism – the Sindhi way of living. In fact, Sindhis are the Sindhi-speaking ethnic group originally native to the Sindh province of now Pakistan. It is said that in the olden times, Sindhis were free of any religious discrimination and followed the Sufi traditions of Shah Lateef, Jhoolay Lal, Sachal, Sami, Qalandar and others who had preached love for humanity.

After the partition of India, in 1947, most Hindu
and Sikh Sindhis migrated to India and a few to other parts of the
world. Currently, Hindu Sindhis, besides worshiping Hindu Gods and
Goddesses, also believe in tenets of Sikhism. Most Sindhi Sikhs
belong to Sahajdhari sect of Sikhism. As a result, Hindu Sindhis can
be regarded as those who concurrently follow both Hinduism and
Sikhism.

In
Focus

Sindhis were greatly influenced by Guru Nanak's
teachings when he had passed through Sindh and expounded his simple
ritual-free philosophy of life without any discrimination against
women and those of lower socio-economic status.

Guru Nanak had
preached to Sindhis that God was formless, omnipresent, and
compassionate. And, God could be reached through prayer, humility,
service, meditation, and virtuous living. They were so impressed by
Sikhism that many Sindhis used to make their first son a Sikh.

Even today the Sindhis visit Gurudwaras and revere
Guru Nanak with the same fervour as Lord Krishna, Lord Rama,
Lord Shiva and Goddesses Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati. The Bhagawad
Gita and the Guru Granth Sahib both have an equally exalted status in
Sindhi homes.

In Sindh, Guru Nanak urged his followers to follow
three tenets, namely, ‘Naam Japo’ or constantly meditate on God’s
name; ‘Kirat Karo’ or earn ones livelihood through honest means;
and ‘Wand Chakko’ or share your earnings and possessions. Thus,
to live ethically and decently with love for humility is the main
flavour of Sindhism, says Waqar Agha according to ryze.com.